In the latter part of last season and the early part of this one, the Arsenal and Germany international midfielder Mesut Ozil came in for a serious amount of criticism and questioning. Despite the fact that it was the former Real Madrid star’s debut season and he had a few injuries along the way, and despite the limited amount of preparation and fitness training he was able to get after the World Cup, the media were looking for reasons as to why his form was not the best.
I have read quite a few pieces suggesting that the 25-year old did not look happy at his new club. In fact, his fellow German Michael Ballack raised the point again as he commented on last week’s defeat in Dortmund. But I am not convinced at all. Mesut has never been the most facially expressive of players whichever team he has played for.
The player has actually told Arsenal Player this week that he loves playing for the Gunners and reckons that the way things are done at the club make Arsenal the perfect place for him. He talked about the way there are no real superstars at the club and every player is treated as an equal and also about how people can get the wrong idea about footballers just from what they see on the pitch.
The German said, “You can’t forget that people don’t know you away from football.
“You can’t really see what a person is really like when they are on the pitch. Sometimes a player will come across as arrogant and another as being a nice guy when in reality it could be the other way round.
“At the club you always have to be respectful towards one another. It doesn’t matter if one player is a world star and the other is a newcomer. Everyone should be treated in the same way and that’s why I’m so happy at Arsenal, because that’s really the case here.
“Everyone is treated the same way and has respect for one another. That’s a big help on the route to reaching your targets – when you’re like a family who make each other feel welcome and at home. That’s how it is here.”
Ozil also spoke out the other day to thank the Arsenal fans for the rousing reception they gave him on Saturday and for their support of them and his team mates in general. That does not sound like an unhappy camper to me. Maybe folk like Ballack should realise that, perhaps, he was not too happy with his own form. What do you think Gooners?